California

Overview

California

Under the Bagley-Keene Act, a state body that administers business or professional licenses to people may hold a closed session to prepare, approve, grade or administer exams. Cal. Gov't Code § 11126(c)(1). Under the Brown Act, a legislative body of a local agency may hold a closed session to discuss and determine whether an applicant for a license or license renewal, who has a criminal record, is sufficiently rehabilitated to obtain a license. Cal. Gov't Code § 54956.7.

Newspapers are generally self authenticating in California under Evidence Code § 645.1, which provides that:

Printed materials, purporting to be a particular newspaper or periodical, are presumed to be that newspaper or periodical if regularly issued at average intervals not exceeding three months.

The Bagley-Keene Act applies to any advisory board, advisory commission, advisory committee, advisory subcommittee or similar multimember advisory body of a state body, consisting of three or more persons, and that was created by formal action of a state body or any member of the state body. Cal. Gov't Code § 11121(c).